Sheriff in Will sued by sergeant

Plaintiff alleges political retaliation

September 11, 2006|By Hal Dardick, Tribune staff reporter

A Will County Sheriff's Department sergeant and former political backer of Sheriff Paul Kaupas has filed a federal lawsuit against Kaupas and six subordinates, alleging they retaliated against him for declaring his opposition to the sheriff's re-election.

Sgt. Earin Land became the victim of false allegations, including a claim that he sold police badges over the Internet, after declaring his opposition, according to the lawsuit filed in late August in Chicago.

The suit alleges Land was brought up on unwarranted internal affairs charges and denied "a more prestigious assignment" that was instead given to a less-qualified candidate.

Gerald Haberkorn, a Chicago attorney hired by the Sheriff's Department, denied the allegations. The internal-affairs investigation, he said, "was not politically motivated."

Pat Barry, Kaupas' spokesman, also denied the allegations. "This is nothing but political," he said.

Land is the coordinator for Girot's campaign, to which he has lent $2,882 and made an in-kind contribution of $240, according to state records.

But Land denied his suit was politically motivated, saying he only turned his support to Girot after the alleged retaliation occurred.

"Everything they did to me was before I joined Rich's campaign," he said. "The political retaliation was against me. ... I'm supporting Girot because I want change."

Land is a 17-year veteran who Kaupas promoted to sergeant. He has won numerous commendations, including the department's highest honor, the Award of Valor, he said.

In 2002, he actively backed Kaupas, a Republican, but the relationship soured after Kaupas took office, Land said.

After the election, Land "became disappointed in what he perceived to be unethical activities of Kaupas and others on his management team," the suit states. "As such, he reached a conclusion that he could no longer politically support Kaupas."

In a telephone interview, Girot said the lawsuit has nothing to do with his campaign. "That's an issue between Earin Land and the Sheriff's Department," he said.

In addition to Kaupas, the suit named as defendants Undersheriff Marty Nowak, Deputy Chief Pat Maher, a member of the Internal Investigations Division and three others. Springfield attorney John Baker filed the suit, which seeks an end to the alleged retaliatory acts and monetary damages.